CVE-2019-8739 in Xcode
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in Xcode 11.0. Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8739 represents a memory corruption flaw within Apple's Xcode development environment that was remediated in version 11.0. This issue stems from inadequate state management during file processing operations, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on systems running affected versions of Xcode. The vulnerability specifically manifests when Xcode encounters maliciously crafted files during normal processing workflows, where improper memory handling allows attackers to manipulate system execution flow. The memory corruption aspect of this flaw aligns with common software security vulnerabilities that fall under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation involves state management rather than direct buffer manipulation. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted files that, when processed by the vulnerable Xcode version, would trigger the memory corruption leading to unauthorized code execution. This represents a critical security concern for developers who rely on Xcode for application development, as the attack vector could be exploited through normal development workflows involving file importation or project loading operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise entire development environments, given that Xcode serves as the primary integrated development environment for macOS and iOS applications. From an operational perspective, this flaw presents a sophisticated attack surface that could be leveraged by adversaries targeting software development teams, potentially enabling them to inject malicious code into legitimate applications or establish persistent access points within development infrastructure. The remediation approach taken by Apple focused on improving state management protocols within Xcode's file processing components, addressing the root cause rather than merely patching symptoms of the memory corruption. This approach aligns with defensive programming principles and follows the ATT&CK framework's tactic of privilege escalation through software supply chain compromises, where attackers exploit development tools to gain elevated system access. Organizations should prioritize updating to Xcode 11.0 or later versions to mitigate this vulnerability, as the memory corruption could potentially be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors within the broader software development lifecycle. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure development practices in integrated development environments, where tools themselves can become attack surfaces that require continuous security assessment and remediation. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat modeling efforts, particularly when evaluating the security posture of development environments that may be targeted by sophisticated adversaries seeking to compromise the software supply chain. The remediation process required careful attention to state management implementation within Xcode's file processing subsystem, ensuring that all file handling operations properly validate input data and maintain memory integrity throughout processing operations.